Abstract
BackgroundThe spectrum of techniques to detect malaria parasites in whole blood is limited to measuring parasites in circulation. One approach that is currently used to enumerate total parasite bio-burden involves the use of bio-luminescent parasites. As an alternative approach, this study describes the use of a commercial ELISA human parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) detection kit to estimate total parasite bio-burden in murine malaria models.MethodsThe cross reactivity of pLDH in a commercial human malaria pLDH diagnostic kit was established in different components of blood for different murine malaria models. The use of pLDH as a measure of parasite bio-burden was evaluated by examining pLDH in relation to peripheral blood parasitaemia as determined by microscopy and calculating total parasite bio-burden using a bio-luminescent Plasmodium berghei ANKA luciferase parasite.ResultsThe pLDH antigen was detected in all four murine Plasmodium species and in all components of Plasmodium-infected blood. A significant correlation (r = 0.6922, P value <0.0001) was observed between total parasite bio-burden, measured as log average radiance, and concentration of pLDH units.ConclusionsThis high throughput assay is a suitable measure of total parasite bio-burden in murine malaria infections. Unlike existing methods, it permits the estimation of both circulating and sequestered parasites, allowing a more accurate assessment of parasite bio-burden.
Highlights
The spectrum of techniques to detect malaria parasites in whole blood is limited to measuring parasites in circulation
This study investigated the use of a commercial human Plasmodium parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) ELISA diagnostic kit for detecting pLDH antigen as a measure of parasite bio-burden during murine malaria infections
PLDH was detected in both whole blood and serum obtained from a P. chabaudi AS infected mouse on day 7 post infection at 31 % parasitaemia
Summary
The spectrum of techniques to detect malaria parasites in whole blood is limited to measuring parasites in circulation. The most promising antigens explored so far include: histidine rich protein-2 (HRP-2) [25], De et al Malar J (2016) 15:3 parasite-specific lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) [18, 19, 26,27,28], and aldolase [29, 30]. These enzymes are involved in metabolic pathways essential for the growth and survival of Plasmodium parasites [29]
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